Saddle.



H. A. SIEVERT.

SADDLE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 16, 1910.

Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHBBT 1.

INVEN T OR.

Jfever H. A. SIEVERT.

SADDLE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.16, 1910.

Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SEEET 2.

VVTNESSES:

coLuMBM PLANumAPH CO..WASH1NGTON.D. cv

HERMAN A. srnvnar, or THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

SADDLE.

Specfication of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12,1913.

Application filed. August 16, 1910. Serial No. 577,406.

To aZZ wlom it may concern Be it known that I, HERMAN A. SIEVERT, of the United States Army, residing at Fort D. A. ltussell, in the county of Laramie and State of lVyoming, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Saddles, of which the following` is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in saddles and its principal obj ect is to provide a saddle of novel construction which, when fastened upon the back of a horse or other animal, will adjust itself to conform with the contour thereo'f and which, while the animal is in motion, will yield without displacement to allow free action of its muscles.

Further objects of my invention reside in the provision 'of means on the saddle whereby the saddle-blanket is held against slipping under the saddle, and in providing a novel method of suspending the stirrups whereby their position relative to the front and rear of the saddle may be readily adjusted to accommodate riders of different physical proportions or to ease the position of the occupant of the saddle durinp; long' rides. V

Other objects of minor importance will fully appear in the following' description in which reference is had to the acco mpanying drawings in the various Views of which like parts are similarly designated and in which Figure 1, represents a top view of the saddle, Fig. 2, a perspective side-elevation of the same, Fig. 3, a transverse section taken along the line 8-3 Fig. 1, and drawn to an enlarged scale, Fig. at, a similar section along the line 4-4 Fis 1, the side bars of the saddle having* been brought closer together, Fig.

5, an enlarged longitudinal section alone' the line 5-5 Fig. 1, Fig. 6, a fragmentary side view of the front end of the saddle showing' the knuckle connection between the sidebars and the pommel, and Fig. 7, a fragmentary section showing' a modified construction of the pommel.

Referring to the drawings by numerical reference characters, my improved saddle is composed of two side bars 2, identical in construction and Configuration, which are pivotally connected at the extremities of two curvilinear yokes 3 and 4, which being respectively disposed near the front and rear ends of the saddle, provide effective substitutes for the pommel and the cantle of the saddles now in common use.

Each of the two side bars 2 is composed of a flanged plate, preferably made of metal of suflicient flexibility to permit them to conform longitudinally and transversely wit the contou'r of the back of the animal upon which it is fastened and to yield in accordance with its muscular action, the longitudinal fiexibility of the plates having been increased by the omission of part of the flanges at their longitudinal edges as has been shown in Figs. t and 5 of the drawings. In this connection I wish it understood that while the flanges on the plates afford convenient means for the fastenng of the material with which the side bars are usually covered, the same may be omitted and the fastening' efiected by a different method.

The side bars 2, may if so desired, be connected at theirjuxtaposed longitudinal edges by a lacing" 5 and they are' formed in their lower Surfaces with corrugations 6 and apertures 7 which prevent the saddle blanket from slipping between the saddle and the surface upon which it is fastened and which furthermore, Strengthen the bars and provide ventilation to the spaces between them and the saddle blanket.

The side bars 2 are provided with coverings 8 which may be composed of leather or other suitable material and which are secured alone; the edges of the bars either in direct contact with their upper surfaces or upon an interposed padding 9 made of cork, felt or other desirable substance.

The yokes 3 and 4 are preferably composed of leather-covered metal and they may be made 'in one piece as shown in Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings, or they may consist of two lapping Sections 10, as shown in Fig. 7, which being detachably connected by means of. bolts 12, permit their longitudinal eX- tension.

The pivotal connections between the yokes and the side bars are effected by the provision of 'corresponding aXially alined knuckles 13 and 14 which being respectively secured at the ends of the yokes and upon the upper surfaces of the respective sidebars, are movably connected by means of pins 15.

The stirrups 16 are suspencled from the front portion of the saddle by the use of a continuous leather 17, which passing freely across the upper surfaces of the side bars, in proximity to the pommel 8, depend at opposite sides thereof and, after having been passed through slots at the upper ends of the stirrups, are detachably secured by means of buckles 18, to D-rings 19, preferably secured at the extremities of the pomniel 3.

The above described arrangement of the stirrup leather permits changing of the position of the point of suspension of the leather by merely placing the portion thereof which is supportcd across the side bars, at the opposite side of the pommel 3, as has been indicated in dash-dot lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The cinch, or surcingle by means of which the saddle is secured upon the back of an animal, is composed of a girth 20 which is provided at its opposite ends with the usual straps 21 and the buclles 22. The girth 20 passes, freely, across the upper surfaces of the side bars 2, and in case' the latter are covered, beneath the coverings 8, so that, when the saddle is secured in place upon the animal by fasteningthe straps 21 below its belly, the free engagement of the girth with the upper surfaces of the flexible bars, will compel the latter to adjust themselves and conform to the contour of the animaPs back.

The side bars 2 and the yokes 3 and 4 are, as usual, provided with fastening devices, such as the rings 23, to secure the equipment or pack of the rider, especially for military purposes.

As the operation and advantages of my improved saddle have been referred to at intervals, in the course of the foregoing description, it will only be necessary to outline them very briefly at this point.

The transverse and longitudinal flexibility of the two side bars 2 and their independent, pivotal connection with the yokes 3 and 4, allow them to bend in conformity with the contour of the back of the animal, and to yield to its muscular and articular action while in motion, when secured in place by means of the surcingle which passes freely across their upper surfaces as hereinbefore described. The space between the juXtaposed longitudinal edges of the side bars, whether connected by the lacing or not, permits free movement of the Vertebrae of the animal, the pivotal connection of the bars adapts the saddles for use on both broad-backed and slender animals, the corrugations and perforations prevent slipping of the saddle blanket and the novel method of arranging the stirrup leather afiords ready means for changing the position of the stirrups relative to the front and rear of the saddle for the greater comfort of the rider.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is 1. A saddle comprising a pommel, side bars independently movably connected therewith, a stirrup leather placed loosely across the upper surfaces of said bars, its,

ends being secured to said pommel, and strrups suspended from said leather at opposite sides of the saddle.

2. A saddle, comprising in combination, a pair of flexible metallic side-bars joined to bring* their adjace'nt longitudinal edges into relatively close movable spaced relation, and means passing around both of said bars and adapted to press them inwardly into conformity with the shape of a horse s back on each side of the spine without pressure on the latter.

3. A saddle, comprising in combination, a pair of fleXible side-bars joined to bring their adjaccnt longitudinal edges into relatively close movable spaced relation, a surcingle passing` freely and entirely over said side-bars and adapted to press them into conforming' contact with the shape of a horses back on each side of the spine, and means on said bars to prevent slipping of tne latter on a saddle blanket.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HERMAN A. SIEVERT. lVitnesses:

S. S. PEARLSTINE, DANIEL WHITE.

Copies of this patent may be obtaned for five cents each, by adressing the, Commissioer of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

